In the fourth inning: 28 Londonderry batters, 23 runs

The scoreboard reflects the Londonderry vs. Nashua North game at the end of the fourth inning Monday afternoon at Londonderry High School. The final was 33-7 in a shortened 5 inning game. (Mark Bolton/Union Leader)

The Nashua North baseball team pounded out seven hits and scored seven runs against Londonderry ace Ryan Moloney on Monday. Nevertheless, the Titans lost by 26.

That's right. Londonderry batted around not once, not twice, but three times in the fourth inning, when the Lancers sent 28 batters to the plate en route to a 33-7 victory.

The game was called after the top of the fifth inning because of the 10-run mercy rule.

"If you told me we were going to score seven on (Moloney), I think we'd have a chance," Nashua North coach Kyle Harvell said. "That's a difficult game for that kid to pitch in."

Londonderry scored two runs in the second, eight in the third and 23 in the fourth. In the fourth, Londonderry collected 12 hits, eight walks and one batter was hit by a pitch.

In total, the Lancers collected 20 hits against four North pitchers, who walked 15 batters.

"In that scenario you can't tell them to stop playing," Londonderry coach Brent Demas said. "You can tone down the aggressiveness, which is what I tried to do. I tried to do the best I could. Keep playing, but tone it down a little bit."

Londonderry raised its Division I record to 6-3.

North dropped to 6-4.

Although he sat through two lengthy delays while his team was at the plate, Moloney pitched all five innings.